Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s recent visit to Najaf in Iraq and his press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, in Baghdad sends several important signals — all centering on increasing regional security in the Middle East. First, the Iranian government considers the nuclear deal with six world powers as resolving any concerns about the possibility of its nuclear program being militarized. Second, the common heritage of both countries provides a natural alignment in combatting the threat of sectarianism and extremism. And finally, Iran is now effectively extending an “olive branch” of cooperation with its neighbors in resolving regional conflicts.
As has become his custom since assuming office as foreign minister in July 2013, Zarif began his visit to Iraq with a first official stop in the southern city of Najaf. While in this holy capital of Shiites, he met with senior clerics and officials, starting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
